Yes I am angry – no, a better word would be incensed – that
the man in the highest office of the land would put this country at dire risk
simply to retrieve a soldier that willfully and wantonly walked away from his
guard post leaving all of his weapon and gear neatly stacked behind, and his
brothers-in-arms at risk
Obama’s administration has done some highly questionable, if
not downright stupid, things during his term in office. This, though, comes
down directly on him. Obama personally authorized the trade – without
consulting Congress as required by law – and continues to defend his decision
even in the face of criticism by some of his staunchest supporters.
Okay, what is wrong with this picture? One could just as
easily ask, what is right with it?
Start here: Despite his own policy and the policy of every
administration before, Obama directly negotiated with Taliban terrorists.
Obama broke the law by negotiating the trade of five
high-level terrorist leaders in confinement at the federal facility in
Guantanamo Bay without consulting or even notifying Congress until well after
the act.
Despite a recidivism rate of 65-percent for released
terrorist detainees, no fewer than five
of the most dangerous high-level terrorist leaders were released to Qatar with
no confinement or enforceable restrictions. Well, I guess that’s one way to
clear out GITMO. It sure doesn’t make me sleep any better at night.
In return for these five choirboys, we got Sergeant Bowe
Bergdahl; a man who his fellow soldiers claim deserted his post the night of
June 30, 2009. That night, Bergdahl placed his weapon and combat gear in a neat
pile and simply walked away from his combat post. Amazingly, this was not the
first time for Bergdahl. Yet, his commanders overlooked the other incidents;
they didn’t even bother reprimanding him! Did Bergdahl intend to return to
post? If so, he didn’t make it. As could be predicted, the Taliban kidnapped
Bergdahl not long after his little walkabout.
Mr. Obama claims Bergdahl was a prisoner-of-war. Not true.
When did we officially declare war on the Taliban? Better yet, how could we
declare war on the Taliban? War can only be declared on government and
governmental entities. The Taliban is neither. Like Al Qaida, the Taliban are
stateless terrorists. We can fight them, capture, and incarcerate them, but
neither they nor fighters they take can be declared prisoners-of-war. That’s
what GITMO is all about.
According to the White House, Bergdahl’s life was in danger.
No kidding! That was the case the minute the sergeant decided to leave his
post. Actually, his action put the lives of everyone at the post in danger.
Don’t the Taliban have a track record of lopping off the heads of those they
capture? Bergdahl was with his “captors” for nearly five years. No one is
saying just what greater danger he faced in his immediate future, or why it was
important to rush the release without informing Congress.
“No man left behind” is an admirable policy in combat
situations. In this case, however, should it apply to negotiating with
terrorists to return five of their leaders for the release of one
deserter-possibly-turned-traitor?
Some say the deed is done, let’s move on. NO! First, the
trade may have been done, but the damage is yet to come. Can anyone be naive
enough to believe the five released GITMO detainees will not take revenge
against the hated people that held then in custody? They hated Americans to
begin with, now they have even more fuel for their hatred. It’s a safe bet
these thugs are this moment plotting vengeful horrors for American people.
Obama has done some phenomenally dumb things while in
office, lied, ignored the constitution, and even broke the law, but this time
he has directly placed our country in danger. If he is not soon impeached, what
other dangers will we face? If he is striving to cement the title of “Worst
President Ever”, he can quit now. He has a secure lock on that distinction.
